This section focuses on the key indicators of the use of IT - computer use and access to the Internet - made by businesses, households and farms in Australia.

Businesses

In the five-year period 1999-2000 to 2004-05, the proportion of businesses using a computer grew from 76% to 89%; in the same period the proportion of businesses with access to the Internet increased from 56% to 77% and that with a web presence from 16% to 27% (table 25.4).

In 2004-05 all businesses with 100 or more people employed used computers, 99% used the Internet, while 91% had a web presence. A much lower proportion of businesses with 0-4 people employed used IT; 85% used computers, 71% used the Internet and 17% had a web presence.

In 2004-05 the proportion of businesses which used IT varied considerably across industries. The industries with the highest proportion of businesses which used a computer were Electricity, gas and water supply, and Cultural and recreational services (both 97%). These industries also had the highest proportion of businesses which used the Internet (both 90%). Accommodation, cafes and restaurants had the lowest proportion of businesses which used a computer (77%). Internet use was lowest in Accommodation, cafes and restaurants and Communication services (both 62%). Web presence was highest in Cultural and recreational services (50%) and Wholesale trade (44%). Construction had the lowest proportion of businesses with a web presence (11%).

Use of IT by businesses in capital cities was higher than other areas for computer use, Internet use and web presence. The proportions of businesses using computers, the Internet and having a web presence were 89%, 78% and 29% respectively for capital cities, compared with 87%, 74% and 22% respectively for other areas.

25.4 BUSINESS USE OF SELECTED TECHNOLOGIES(a), By selected business characteristics - 2004-05

Computer use

Internet use

Web presence

%

%

%

Employment size

0-4 persons

85

71

17

5-19 persons

95

86

41

20-99 persons

97

92

59

100 or more persons

100

99

91

Total income

Less than $100,000

80

62

^10

$100,000 to less than $1m

89

77

24

$1m to less than $5m

97

90

49

$5m or more

100

99

70

Industry(b)

Mining

92

88

38

Manufacturing

88

75

38

Electricity, gas and water supply

97

90

43

Construction

84

66

11

Wholesale trade

95

87

44

Retail trade

84

73

^24

Accommodation, cafes and restaurant

77

62

31

Transport and storage

82

67

16

Communication services

84

62

19

Finance and insurance

95

85

28

Property and business services

95

89

33

Health and community services

94

80

19

Cultural and recreational services

97

90

50

Personal and other services

82

66

25

State

New South Wales

87

75

23

Victoria

89

75

30

Queensland

90

80

29

South Australia

92

82

31

Western Australia

90

76

26

Tasmania

92

86

^28

Northern Territory

95

83

^28

Australian Capital Territory

92

84

^28

Region

Capital cities

89

78

29

Other areas

87

74

22

Total businesses

89

77

27

^ estimate has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution

(a) Proportions are of all businesses in each category.

(b) Classified according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 1993 edition.

In 2005-06, 70% of all households had access to a computer and 60% had home Internet access (graph 25.5). Over the period from 1998 to 2005-06, household access to home Internet has grown considerably, from 1.1 million households in 1998 to 4.7 million in 2005-06.

25.5 Household home computer and Internet access(a)

In 2005-06 the proportion of households with home computer access was higher for households with children under 15 years of age (89%) compared with those without children under 15 years (63%). Home computer access was lowest for all households in Tasmania (60%) and highest in the Australian Capital Territory (82%). In 1998, only a third of all households with a computer had home access to the Internet; by 2005-06 this proportion had increased to 86%.

During 2005-06, the number of households with broadband access to the internet almost doubled from the previous year to 2.3 million (48%). The Australian Capital Territory continued to register the highest proportion of households with broadband Internet connection (55% of the households with Internet connection), while Tasmania recorded the lowest proportion of broadband connection (35%). Both household and personal access to broadband was more prevalent in metropolitan areas and major cities of Australia compared with ex-metropolitan areas and remote Australia.

Farms

In 2004-05, 56% of the almost 130,000 farms in Australia, with an estimated value of agricultural operations of $5,000 or more, used a computer as part of their business operations; 53% used the Internet (table 25.6).

Western Australia recorded the highest proportion of farms using a computer for business operations (70%) and the highest proportion using the Internet for business operations (68%) in 2004-05. Tasmania recorded both the lowest proportion of farms using a computer (52%) and the lowest proportion of farms using the Internet (48%).

25.6 FARM USE OF COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET FOR BUSINESS OPERATIONS - 2004-05

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